- Diplomatic Protection Group officer arrested on misconduct charge
- Arrest is in connection with exposure of Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell swearing at officers outside Downing Street
- The unnamed officer has been suspended from duty
By Ben Spencer and Chris Greenwood
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The arrest of a police officer over the leak of information regarding Andrew Mitchell's 'plebgate' rant has been criticised as 'disproportionate' by the head of the Police Federation.
John Tully, who heads the group which represents rank and file officers, questioned the probe into how the former Tory chief whip's rant became public.
Mr Mitchell resigned in October after weeks of controversy over his rant at police guarding Downing Street, after being told he could not ride his bike through the main gates.
'Plebs': An officer has been arrested over a leak that led to the resignation of Tory Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell (pictured) after an altercation with officers in Downing Street
A member of the Diplomatic Protection Group was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
He was suspended from the Metropolitan Police and bailed yesterday to return to police next month, Scotland Yard said last night.
Today Mr Tully suggested the action was disproportionate. 'The thing which disappointed me is around the proportionality of whether it was necessary to arrest the individual. After all, he is a serving police officer,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
'Clearly it needs to be resolved, because there are things that we shouldn't talk about as police officers, and this may be one of those cases.
He added: 'There is no suggestion that there is any corruption involved. It is a matter of policy and procedure as far as the Met are concerned. It will be interesting to see where this goes, whether there is a charge at the end of this.'
Mr Mitchell admitted at police but denied insulting the officers and insisted he had not used the word 'plebs'.
He tried to cling to office but was forced to resign after sustained pressure from the Police Federation - the police trade union - and opposition MPs.
Today Mr Mitchell again protested his innocence. 'I'd just like to reiterate once again, that it's the contents of the alleged police log which are false...they are false and I want to make that very clear,' he told ITV News.
Scotland Yard said the PC was arrested on Saturday evening after detectives received fresh information regarding the alleged unauthorised disclosure of information.
The unnamed PC was not on duty when Mr Mitchell is said to have branded officers 'plebs'.
Scotland Yard said detectives received the new information on Thursday last week.
Scandal: Mr Mitchell was forced to resign after pressure from MPs aand members of the Metropolitan Police Federation
A spokesman said: 'The arrest is linked to previous inquiries by the Metropolitan Police Service as to how internal MPS information was obtained by national newspapers following an incident at Downing Street in September.
'These inquiries found no evidence to suggest any of the officers involved in the incident were involved in the unauthorised release of information.
'The officer arrested was not on duty at the time of the incident in Downing Street.'
He added: 'The officer has been suspended from duty.'
The matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Downing Street today refused to get drawn into the row.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'At the time we said there was a genuine difference of opinion.
'Clearly this is something the police are dealing with and I don't think I want to get drawn into further comment.'
At a briefing for journalists, the spokesman was asked if the Prime Minister was concerned about the arrest of the whistle-blower. He replied: 'That arrest is a matter for the Metropolitan Police.'
Mr Mitchell resigned in October, acknowledging he had been unprofessional in his conduct.
In a letter to the Prime Minister announcing his decision, he admitted he had sworn at the officer concerned.
'Whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter I will not be able to fulfil my duties as we would both wish,' he said.
'Nor is it fair to continue to put my family and colleagues through this upsetting and damaging publicity.'
He added: 'I did not, never have and never would call a police officer a "pleb" or a "moron" or used any of the other pejorative descriptions attributed to me.
'The offending comment and the reason for my apology was my parting remark, "I thought you guys were supposed to f*****g help us".
'It was obviously wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it.'
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